Designing a 17,200-square-foot home in Westlake, Texas—a Dallas suburb—posed unique challenges related to scale and atmosphere. Janelle Patton of Lark Interiors collaborated with architectural lead Alison Ames to create a home that felt inviting rather than commercial. Their approach emphasized interconnected rooms and minimal hallways to foster a cozy ambiance, essential for a family residence. The collaborative efforts resulted in a seven-bedroom, nine-bathroom marvel that balances grandeur with intimacy.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Architect: Alison Ames
Interior Designer: Janelle Patton
Furniture: Custom commissions and Vanguard Furniture
Location: Westlake, Texas
Design Style: Modern English Cottage Mansion
Central to the design philosophy was addressing the challenge of expansive spaces, such as the 34-foot-high living room ceilings. Patton and Ames artfully incorporated wooden beams and coffered ceilings to mitigate the potential vastness, avoiding large swathes of drywall. Intimate corners, like a shoe nook under the stairs and a loft with a slide leading to a secret room in the kids’ playroom, enriched the cozy, approachable feel while maintaining the home’s impressive scale.
The entertaining wing became an essential facet of the design, reflecting the homeowners’ enthusiasm for hosting gatherings. The lounge, a complex of diverse social spaces, includes a den with ample seating, a pool table, and a bar, alongside amenities such as a golf simulator, a screening room, and a half-sized basketball court. These spaces harmonized with rounded architectural elements and a color palette of greens, blues, mustard, and terra-cotta to unify the home’s diverse features and activities.
The “modern English cottage…mansion” style emerged from merging the homeowners’ differing tastes—modern and English-inspired elements. Patton and Ames skillfully balanced these sensibilities with recurring design motifs. The consistency of rounded corbels and cabinetry details, along with versatile, high-performance materials, ensured the home’s functionality for a lively family setting while creating an aesthetic continuity across the interiors.
Key areas of the home display thoughtful personalization and custom elements. The living room is predominantly furnished with custom pieces that match the home’s unique scale. The kitchen balances practical utility with social interaction, featuring comprehensive storage solutions and a Dutch door leading to the driveway. Durable, easy-to-clean materials cater to high traffic, particularly in dining spaces like the Breakfast Nook, where custom white oak benches blend functionality and elegance.
Finally, bedroom and bathroom designs cater to family dynamics and personal comfort. The primary bedroom retains openness with minimal rugs over white oak flooring, while a guest-facing bunk room has been optimized for hosting numerous visitors. Children’s spaces prioritize function and imagination, such as toy storage in the boy’s room and playful wallpaper in the bathrooms. These areas continue the home’s theme of understated luxury and inventive design, ensuring each space is a harmonious part of a cohesive, inviting dwelling.
